Double suction grain cleaner and grader.



W. WATTS. DOUBLE SUCTION GRAIN CLEANER AND GRADE-R.

APPLICATION FILED JAILIQ, 1912. 1,096,335. Patented May 12, 1914.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR B LUa/rremmzmz W Allormy COLUMBIA PLANOOIAPH co., WASNIND'ID N. D. c.

W. WATTS. DOUBLE SUCTION GRAIN CLEANER AND GRADER. APPLIUATION IILI'ID JAN. 19, 1912.

1 9 335 Patented May 12, 1914.

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W/Yl VESSES INVENTOR I 08 W M 13 wan m g f .2 A -SWl/lormy COLUMBIA PLANOGMPH co.. WASHINGTON, 0. c.

WITNESSES W. WATTS. DOUBLE SUCTION GRAIN CLEANER AND GRADER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19, 1012.

Patented May 12, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CD.,WASHINOTON. D. c.

[N VEN T OR LUWQDEUZL" W. WATTS. DOUBLE SUCTION GRAIN CLEANER AND GRADER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1912. 1,096,335. Patented May 12, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES I INVENTOR B 6 I Q 5 Altarmy COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH C0-.WASHINOTON, n. c

W. WATTS. DOUBLE SUCTION GRAIN CLEANER AND GRADER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19, 1912. 1,096,335. Patented May12,1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANDGRAHI C0.,WAS!||NOTDN. n. c.

WARREN WATTS, OF HAYES TOWNSHIP, CLAY COUNTY, KANSAS.

DOUBLE SUCTION GRAIN CLEANER AND GRADER.

Application filed January 19, 1912.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1.914.

Serial No. 672,188.

To all 1.0710212 it may concern:

lie it known that I, lVAunnN ivers, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hayes township, in the county of Clay and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improventents in Double Suction G 'ain Cleaners and Graders, of which the following is a specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved double suction grain cleaner and grader. Fig. 9. is a longitudinal section of the cleaning and grading apparatus the frame being omitted. Fig. is a horizontal section about the line 3-3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is a transverse section about the line 4% in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a feeding roller. Fig. 6 is a detail side view of a gate used in controlling the opening in the suction passage. Fig. 7 is a detail edge view of the same. Fig. 8 is an underside view of the lower screen casing showing the outlets for the graded matter. Fig. 9 is a detail view of an oscillating rock bar for supporting; one end of a screen casing. Fig. 10 is a detail view showing means for supporting the other end of a screen casing the parts being shown separated. Fig. 11 is a detail view of a similar part the bearing parts being assembled. FigwlQ is a front view of the feed hopper and feed controlling mechanism.

My invention embodies principles and details of construction which are applicable to either a single form of grain cleaning and grading apparatus or to a double form of grain cleaning and grading apparatus. I have preferred to show the double form of the apparatus, it being understood that the single form of the apparatus embodies the same features with the omission of the work ing parts of the machine on one side, the only changes involved to effect the same being the closing of the fan casing on the omitted side and the omission of the feeding mechanism on the same side.

I have termed my invention a double suction grain cleaner and grader as my invention relates to that class of separators known as shaking screens used for separating seed and grain from dust, dirt and rubbish and for classifying or grading the various seeds and grains, and relates particularly to thatform which employs a suction fan for withdrawing the dust and fine chafl".

The objects of my invention comprise improvements in the operation, construction and design of various parts of the class of apparatus referred to, and particularly with regard to the feed hopper and its exit control, the fan mounting and its control, the control of the suction, the means for causing a passage of air at least twice through the sitting matter for the removal of dust and chatt', the means by which seeds and grain are graded and chuted, the means by which the screens are shaken without causing undue vibration of the apparatus, the means by which the grain is caused to move in thin sheets throughout the entire operation for the :ulvancement of the separation and grading.

1 is the foundation or base of a frame comprising also upright corner posts 9., in.- termediate front posts 3, intermediate rear posts 4t, horizontal braces 5 between each corner post 2 and the adjacent intermediate post, transverse upper and lower bracing and partitioning elements (3 and 7 forming a pair of parallel partitions, horizontal front and rear top braces 8 connecting the upper ends of the front intermediate posts 3 and of the rear intermediate posts 4, and horizontal transverse slotted end braces 9 extending between each pair of upright corner posts.

Surmounting the intermediate posts is a feed hopper having an arched bottom 10, front and back plates 11 and end plates 12, the end plates being provided with angular deflecting edge extensions 13, under which revolve grooved feed rollers 14- on shafts 15, receiving motion through pulleys 16 from a suitable source of power.

Centrally ot the frame and beneath the hopper bottom 10 is located an exhaust fan 17 in a casing 18 and leading to the fan are tapering side passages 19 which are circular in cross section where they abut the casing 18 and gradually increase in width and decrease in height until at their opposite ends they present a wide narrow horizontal inlet for air and dust. The fan casing and side passages are supported where they abut by the parallel partitioning elements 6 and 7 and the side passages are supported at their opposite ends by the transverse end braces 9. The fan is mounted on a shaft 20 carrying a gear 21 meshing with a gear 29. on a transverse shaft 23 which carries at its forward end a wheel 24 which is operated by a power belt or suitable gearing with a motor. The

blades of the fan are shovel shaped. and semi-cylindrical in cross section and are retated in a direction to cause an inward suction through the side passages to the fan and outward through the rear passage 25. The shaft may be mounted in a bracket bear ing 26 at one end and in a T shaped union bearing 27 at the other end the union bearing being in turn supported either by the partitioning elements 7 or the transverse shaft 23 which is supported by front and rear bearing brackets 28 and 29 respectively secured to forward and rear intermediate post respectively. lVhile the suction of the fan may be varied by the speed at which it is rotated to prevent the lighter grain and seeds from being drawn into the fan I prefer to prevent this by installing near the narrow horizontal inlets, one or more vertically movable gates 30 working in the slots 31 in the transverse end braces 9. Each of these vertically movable gates is secured to a transverse strip 32 to each end of which is fastened a vertical rack bar 33 spaced from the vertically movable gates 30 so that the gates may pass upward through the slots 81 and the rack bars pass up on each side of the side passages 19. The rack bars are moved by pinions 34, the latter being fixed on a transverse shaft 35 suitably supported and operated by a suitable hand wheel or crank handle 36, the rotation of which in one direction causes an upward movement of the gate and in the other direction the clownward movement of the gate.

Over each side passage 19 is suspended a screen. casing 37 carrying a series of screens 38, 39, 40, and comprising sides 41, bottom 42, an upper end piece 43 providing a screen rack having stepped ledges 44, the upper end piece 43 being edged with a thin strip 45 lapping under the feed hopper outlet, and the sides 41 having depending lower end portions 46 forming, in connection with a U shaped trough 47 supported by the screen casing, a chute delivering toward the front of the machine. At an intermediate point the bottom 42 is provided with a wide narrow opening guarded by lapping edge strips 48 and 49, the strip 48 being carried by a transverse brace 50 and the strip 49 being carried by the bottom 42, the pair of strips being adapted to guide the flow of grain in a thin sheet into a downwardly extending wide chute 51 one side of which is open to the side passage 19, the edge strips preventing the loss of the sifted material between the bottom 42 and the sides of the chute 51 in the shaking movement of the screen casing. The lower end of the chute 51 leads to a second or lower screen casing having sides 52, upper end 53 hinged to the bottom 54 at 56, and transverse cleat 57, on which rests a lower bottom extension 58, the lower portions of the sides together with the bottom extension forming a chute for discharging material which does not pass through the upper screen 59. Between the cleat 57 and the downwardly projecting transverse panel 60 are two depending portions of each of the sides 52, one pair of which 61 forming in connection with U shaped elements 62 a pair of center line discharging chutes for matter passing the screen 59 and not passing the screen 63, and the other pair of which 64 forming in connection with the panel 60 and inclined bottom 65 a collecting and discharging chute for the material passing both screens, the material eventually escaping through the opening 66 in the bottom 65. The bottom 54 overlaps the collecting chute for the purpose of deflecting the air current rising through the chute so that some of the air will pass through the lower ends of the screens 59 and 63.

As the screen casings, screens and chutes on one side of the apparatus are similar to those on the other side the description as above willapply to both, or either.

Both pairs of screen casings are shakingly m.ounted,'the upper casings being mounted on transverse shafts 67 and 68 passed through bearings 69 and 70, the ends of the shafts 67 passing into the lower ends of paired vertical links 71 pivotally supported through pins 72 by the top braces 8, and the ends of each of the shafts 68 passing into the upper arm of an oscillating rock bar '73, pivotally mounted in a bracket 74 on an adjacent post 2. The lower casings are mounted on transverse shafts 75 and 76 passed through pairs of bearings 77 and 78, the ends of the shafts 75 being inserted in the lower arms of the bars 73, and the ends of the shafts 76 being mounted in links 79, which through pins 80 are supported by brackets 81 on posts 3. Each rock bar 73 is oscillated by a rod 82 which has one end secured to the bar intermediate its pivot and one of the ends of the bar, the illustration showing it secured to the upper arm of the bar at 83 by a pin and nut, and the other end, which is widened, embracing an eccentrie 84 fixed on the shaft23. The four rods 82 are mounted in pairs so that all move toward the middle of the apparatus at the same time and away from the middle simultaneously. This arrangement reduces the vibration of the apparatus to a minimum.

To the front of the feed hopper is secured a bracket 65 having upper and lower ears S6 and 87 through which passes a vertical shaft 88 which is provided with a hand wheel 89 at its upper end and a reduced portion 90 at its lower end, the shaft being threaded above the reduced portion for a distance, the difference in diameters of the shaft causing it to be supported on the lower ear 8]? against which the o flset rests.

Embracing the shaft on its threaded portion is a pair of links 91 induced to move downward by a spring 9'2 and moved in either an up or down direction by the rotation of the shaft through the hand wheel. Through pivoted links 93, attached to the ends of links 91, adjusting levers 9 t, pivoted on rods 95 and carrying at their free ends barrier strips 96 connected to the bottom 10 by flexible aprons 97, are operated by the rotation of the hand wheel 89 to narrow or widen the space between the grooved rollers 14 and the barrier strips 96 and cause more or less material to be released to the screens in a wide stream practically the full width of the screens. V

The screens in the upper screen casing are supported at their higher ends by the stepped ledges 411 i and are bracketed at their lower ends to the sides of the casing at 98. The upper screens in the lower screen casings are bracketed at their upper ends at 99 to the sides of the casing and supported at their lower ends on a thin plate 100 secured to the bottom extension 58, and the lower screens are bracketed to the sides of the casing at their upper ends at 101 and have their lower ends supported by the bottom 54:.

In the operation of the apparatus the uncleaned material is fed to the feed hopper whence it issues in a wide thin stream to the upper screens the lighter and larger rubbish passing thereover to the chute 1? and being discharged to the front of the machine, the heavier and finer particles including seed and grain passing through the screens and into the chute 51 fine dust and chaff being drawn to one side into the side pas ages 19, the grain and seed passing onto the screen 59 through which all but the largest grain or seed pass to the screen 63, the largest grain or seed passing over the bottom extension 58 into the chute delivering therefrom. The next size of grain or seed passes over the screen to the chutes delivering on the center line, the finer matter passing through the screen 63 and collecting on the inclined bottom 65 whence it passes through the opening 66 to a proper receptacle. During the whole passage of the grain or seed through the vertical passage or chute 51 it is subjected to the action of the suction caused by the fan and each particle of foreign matter as it is loosened by the agitation of the material is drawn away from the descending grain or seed, the air passing through the entire screened material at least twice.

It is understood that proper receptacles are provided at the mouths of the various chutes for the reception of the rubbish, dust, chaff, grain and seed as the case may be.

If it is desired to use but one side of the machine the gate in the air passage on the opposite side can be raised to shut off the suction on that side and the belt of the correspoiuling pulley operating the feed roller being shipped, thereby stopping the feeding of the grain from the hopper to the sieves.

The gates in the air passage form a barrier when partly raised to prevent fine grain or seeds, which have been influenced by the suction into a tendency to follow the air into the air passage, from doing so, the solid matter falling into the comparatively quiet location just outside of the gates and eventually dropping into the lower screen casing.

The amount of shaking of the screens may be varied by adjusting the ends of the rods 82 nearer to or farther from the pivot point of the oscillating rock bars 73.

The feed rollers 14; may be made with a wood core covered with crimped sheet metal the crimping forming the tlutiug or corrugations.

Having thus described my invention the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1.. A suction cleaner and grader comprising a frame, a suction fan, ascreen casing supported on said frame, an inclined screen in said casing, a substantially vertical chute extending downwardly from the lower edge of said screen, a straight conduit extending directly from said chute to said fan, and an adjustable sliding gate at the intake mouth of said conduit for preventing the lighter grain being drawn into said fan.

2. A suction cleaner and grader comprising a frame, a suction fan, substantially horizontal, straight side passages leading directly to the fan, upper and lower screen casings carrying inclined screens, and a substantially vertical chute between the upper and lower screen casings having one side open to the said straight, horizontal side passages leading to the fan and means for shaking the screens and operating the fan.

3. A suction cleaner and grader compris ing a frame, a suction fan and upper and lower screen casings supported thereby, inclined screens in said casings, a vertical chute connecting said casings, a conduit extending laterally from said vertical chute and communicating directly with said fan, and means located in said conduit for regulating the size of the free passage therethrough.

4. A suction cleaner and grader comprising a vertical chute, means for feeding the materials to be cleaned through such chute, the lower end of said chute being curved laterally and open to the atmosphere, a suction conduit communicating with the side of the upper end of said chute, the wall of said chute opposite said conduit being beyond the path of the falling material, and means for drawing air in through the lower curved end of the chute, and causing it to strike said \*all and pass out through said conduit, whereby such air currents are made to travel twice transversely across the path of the falling material.

5. In a suction cleaner and grader, the combination of a pair of upper and a pair of lower shaking screen casings, with means for simultaneously operating said casings, such means comprising a power pulley and shaft, eccentrics on the shaft, pitmen operated by said eccentrics, and rocker bars connected to the pitmen, each of said rocker bars being centrally pivoted to a fixed support and pivotally connected at its end with one of said upper and one of said lower screen casings, whereby pairs of such casings are simultaneously moved alternately toward and away from each other.

6. A suction cleaner and grader comprising a centrally mounted suction fan in a casing having side openings, intake conduits extending from said openings in line with the axis of said tan, a feed hopper above the fan, screen casings carrying screens located 011 each side and above the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

